Could Porter Cable be in the final stages of developing a brushless drill? David Frane’s recent post at Tools of the Trade suggests that yes, it’s coming. (Shown above is their brushed motor 20V Max drill).
All of the mainstream top-tier professional tool brands have already come out with brushless drills and drivers, and many mid-level tiers as well. Even value-priced pro and homeowner brand Ryobi has come out with a brushless drill, although it’s not (yet?) available in the USA.
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Porter Cable, which has expanded its 20V Max lineup in recent years, is marketed as a value-priced professional tool brand. Their cordless drill and impact driver have exceeded our expectations, performance-wise but are regularly criticized based on their aesthetics.
Some users don’t care what they look like, others think the tools look too toy-like.
In the Tools of the Trade post, there are images of what a brushless Porter Cable drill might look like. In a survey asking for a user’s preference, two versions largely draw from the current color scheme but include some additional accents, and two others completely eliminate the grey, in favor of red and black as the dominant colors.
It’s interesting that Porter Cable might be considering a new color scheme, or maybe they’re just considering it for if or when they launch a first-for-them line of brushless drills, drivers, and possibly other tools. That is, maybe they are only considering a different color scheme for their eventual brushless tools.
In a recent discussion, and unfortunately I don’t remember who it was with, we talked about how Porter Cable’s 20V drill and driver are somewhat better and higher-tiered than the other main tools released during their 20V Max expansion. Recent cost-cutting drill and driver kits, with smaller battery capacities and slower chargers, disappointed me about the brand, but were not all that surprising. Porter Cable is trying to fill the hole between Black & Decker and Dewalt. Who knows where Bostitch fills in.
The prospect of a Porter Cable brushless drill excites me, which is exciting in itself. Hopefully we will see such a tool sooner than later, and maybe it will be the beginning of a successful brand-strengthening campaign.
All I know is that the brand could use some new energy. A brushless drill should accomplish that, with or without a new color scheme. For what it’s worth, I like the grey, red, and black colors.
Dear Porter Cable: do away with some of the greeble, and the current color scheme will work just fine.
Jason. W says
Maybe it’s the fact that I’m a 12 year old trapped in a man’s body, but I love their color scheme and design.
will says
I don’t think it’s that bad either but the base and battery have too much going on there. they should smooth it out and keep the color. Though they might just be going with a different color for the brushless to differentiate them from the brushed models.
mike aka Fazzman says
I have quite a few tools in this lineup,I like that they look different. Depending what they offer in brushless I may just stick with these guys.
For the DIY/homeowner types like myself these are great for the pricepoint. Ive used my PC stuff on all sorts of things,they have plenty of power and seem like they can handle most anything. I have 2 sets of the drill and impact,one for home and one for shop. i use them all the time.
I think it’d be cool if they released their multi tool as brushless. also the relatively new hammerdrill.
john says
Its very similar gear to the Stanley Fatmax range in the UK. When I say similar its like two identical twins with different colour clothes on!
Nathan says
I’m a fan of the porter cable brand – but I only own one of their tools.
Would love to see a brushless setup, and bigger batteries as options. I don’t mind the looks and I like the grey color over all. I do however wish there was more common battery tie to the dewalt line but such is life.
curious as to how a new line of PC tools will turn out.
fred says
It may be just me – but I’m still saddened by what Stanley-B&D has done with their Porter Cable brand. The only new tools in the brand seem to be aimed at mid-line and DIY buyers. No upgrades to their production router line – no replacements or upgrades for their once venerable woodworking tools like their production sanders and planers. I guess I should be happy that they are still making their lock mortising machine – once the standard of the industry – I think now made in Mexico – but at least not discontinued.
So for now – I still keep my old Rockwell-PC tools (power planes, locomotive belt sander, 4.5 inch worm gear saw, PC-Betterley Routers running ) because they still seem to me to be best-in-class tools.
mizzourob says
I’m still frustrated they stopped their 18 volt lineup. It had a slide pac kjust like the 20 volt max lineup has, so no need to change language to distinguish post vs. slide style batteries. This is just a pointless marketing move to annoy loyal owners. I own every tool in the 18 volt lineup, but wish they had an impact wrench, blower, planer (like the new Milwaukee), and biscuit cutter. If there was a brushless drill I’d probably buy it just to try it. Newer batteries with larger amp-hour ratings would be great too, as the 1.3/LX and 2.6/EX lithium batteries seem a bit long in the tooth compared to the 4 and 5 amp-hour batteries that others have. When it is time for new tools I’ll either go with Makita, Milwaukee, or maybe Ridgid. Makita, by virtue of being the only one with full lawn tools would be in the lead right now.
Toolpig says
I used to have a ton of Porter Cable tools. It is sad to me what has been done to the name by Stanley Bostich . We don’t need more junk Chinese tool lines. There are more than enough to go around already. Porter cable used to make the strongest cordless drill on the market. Now they are just competition for the bottom feeders like Ryobi and kobalt and craftsman. Sad sad sad.